1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: It is time now for today's Strawberry Letter. And if 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: you need advice on relationships, on work, on sex, on parenting, 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: on dating, and more, please submit your Strawberry letter to 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: Steve HARVEYFM dot com and click submit Strawberry Letter. We 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: could be reading your letter live on the air, like 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna read this one right here today, and you 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: never know it could be yours. So write us, write us, 8 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: it could be yours. Buckle up and hold on type. 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: We got it for you here. It is a Strawberry Letter. 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: Thank you, nephew. Subject I can't imagine him with big Mama. 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: Dear Stephen Shirley, I'm a forty five year old single 12 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: mother of five sons. My two youngest sons to live 13 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,639 Speaker 1: with my mother because they went to spend the night 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 1: with her one time and she never let them return 15 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: to my house. I can't fight for them because she 16 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: says I'm not fit to be their mother. This feud 17 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: started about three years ago when my mama thought she 18 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: had a boyfriend. The guy didn't want her. He was 19 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: just using her for money and transportation. He's twelve years younger, 20 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: so she thought she was doing something big. Naturally, he 21 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: came on to me because I'm my mother's twin in 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: every way except wait. My oldest children started calling her 23 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: Big Mama when they were young, and now she's lived 24 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: up to that name. She is big and tall with 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: hazel eyes. She was every man's dream back in the day, 26 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: and she can't deal with the fact that I'm pulling 27 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: up the rear and getting all of the attention now. 28 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: I didn't purposely take her man away from her. It 29 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: happened gradually. She asked me to spend the night with 30 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: her one night so I could take her to an 31 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: eye appointment early the next morning. While she slept, her 32 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: boyfriend chased me all over the house, trying to pull 33 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: off my nightgown. When he finally caught me, I played 34 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: like I was resisting him, but our chemistry was too 35 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: strong to fight it. We snuck around for two months 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: before he finally told Mama what was going on. My 37 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: older children have adjusted to him being with me and 38 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: not Big Mama anymore. My oldest son told me that 39 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: he can't imagine my boyfriend what's ever with Big Mama. 40 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: I can't either, because he is a superstar lover, and 41 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: I'm surprised she could keep up with him. I'm tired 42 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: of fighting with Big Mama, So how do I stop her? 43 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: How do I get her to stop playing games and 44 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: give me my children back? I don't understand how you 45 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: can't get your children. They're your children. How can you 46 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: not get your children back from your mom? And? Anyway? 47 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: There's a lot left out in this letter, but there 48 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: are two different problems going on here. They're both major. First, 49 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 1: your mom has two of your five children you say 50 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: you can't get back. And secondly, you slept with your 51 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: mom's man. Okay, what kind of person are you? Why 52 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: are you in competition with your own mother over a man? 53 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: When you make statements like we're alike in every way 54 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: except wait, or when you say now you're pulling up 55 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: the rear and getting all of the attention, let's make 56 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: you sound like you're jealous of your mom. With all 57 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: the other men out here, why do you have to 58 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: take your mom's man. The sad part is you don't 59 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: even get it. I mean, just because he was chasing 60 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: you around the room doesn't mean you had to let 61 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: him catch you. You already said that. You know you 62 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: tried to resist him at first, but the chemistry was 63 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: too strong. And all of that you had to prove 64 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: to your mom that you could get him. Was that 65 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: what you were doing? You're the cute one. Now what 66 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: are you doing? I mean, you have no remorts. You 67 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: don't even see why your mom is retaliating by calling 68 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: you unfit and trying to keep your two boys. There 69 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: must be something to it, or you would have your boys. 70 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: I really don't understand why you can't get them that 71 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: you claim you want. You know, you claim you want 72 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: the boys. Your mom is not the one playing games 73 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: here I think you are. You need to grow up. 74 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: You need to stop worrying about your mom and her 75 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: looks and all of that, and worry about how you 76 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,119 Speaker 1: are going to be a better person, how you're going 77 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: to be a better daughter, and how you're gonna be 78 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: a better mom and get your kids back if that's 79 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: what you really want, Steve, Well, this letter ain't gonna 80 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: take long because it ain't about nothing. This letter ain't 81 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: about light of down. I don't even know how you right? 82 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: You really? What, lady? How? What forty five year old 83 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: single mother with five sons? You're five, You got five 84 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: sons and you're a single mother. Your two younger sisters 85 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: lived with my mother because they want to spend the 86 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: night with her one time, and she never let them 87 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: return to my house. I can't fight for them because 88 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: she says I'm not fit to be their mother. What 89 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: kind of statement is that? How hard are you really 90 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: fighting to try to get these kids back? How how 91 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: is it that a mother can't get her kids back? 92 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: The coach didn't tell you you wasn't fit. Social services 93 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: didn't tell me, tell you wasn't thick. Child Protective Services 94 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: didn't tell you that they went over that one night 95 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 1: and she never sent them back. Oh, I know what's 96 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: happening now. You say this feud started about three years 97 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: ago when my mama I thought she had a boardfriend. 98 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: But we're gonna find out how long she gonna be 99 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: thinking that the guy didn't want her. He was just 100 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: using her for money and transportation. Twelve years younger, So 101 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: she thought she was doing something big. Naturally. He came 102 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: on to me because I'm my mother's twin in every 103 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: way except wait, wait a minute, I don't understand that. 104 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: So your mother thought she was doing something big. Naturally, 105 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: he came on to me because I'm my mother's twin 106 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: in every way except wait, what do you mean, naturally 107 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: he came on to you Christ but years that's what 108 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: you thought it was supposed to have. Why because you 109 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: find it your mama, Well, because you don't weigh as 110 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: much as your mama sound to me like, and I'm 111 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: gonna say this earlier. I was gonna save it to 112 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: the end. This is a competition, yeah, right, And the 113 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: competition started with you. You girl, You the forty five 114 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: year old with the five kids and can't get nobody. 115 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: That's what the problem was. Then your mama got somebody, 116 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: and now you're talking about she thinks she got a 117 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: board friend. Well, wait till he see me, because we're 118 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: twins in every way except hang on, Steve, hang on. 119 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,239 Speaker 1: We'll come back prepared two of your response at twenty 120 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: three minutes after be our today's Strawberry Letters, subject I 121 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,119 Speaker 1: can't imagine him with big Mama. We'll get back into 122 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: it right after this. You're listening, all right, Come on, Steve, 123 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: let's recap today's crazy Strawberry letter and the subject I 124 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: can't imagine him with big Mama. I know you couldn't. 125 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: That's the whole problem. Here's a woman that's forty five 126 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: years old, she's a single mother. She got five sons, 127 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: my two youngest sons to live with my mother because 128 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: they went to spend the night with her one time 129 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: and she never let them return to my house. Didn't. 130 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: Lady said, I can't fight for them because she says 131 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: I'm not fit to beat their mother. What Social services 132 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: didn't tell you this? Child Protective Services didn't tell you that. 133 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: The Resource department didn't tell you this. People to cut 134 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: checks ain't told you this. Your mama told you this, 135 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: and she kept the kids. Then she starts trying to 136 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: tell the story. The feud started about three years ago 137 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: when my mama thought she had a boyfriend. The guy 138 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: didn't want her. He was just using her for money 139 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: in transportation. He twelve years younger, so she thought she 140 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: was doing something. Then right out of nowhere, naturally he 141 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: came on to me. Because I'm my mother's twinned in 142 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: every way except to wait. My oldest children started calling 143 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: her Big Mama when they were young, and now she's 144 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: lived up to the name. Well you next, you know, 145 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: since you like your mom in every way, just want 146 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: you to know the weight coming your way too. It 147 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: usually comes as we age, so get ready we are. 148 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: I'm just like my mother. I'm my mama's twin without 149 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: the weight. Oh it's coming, yeah a day now, slow down. 150 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: She is big and tall with hazel eyes. She was 151 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: every man's dream back in the day. And she can't 152 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: deal with the fact that I'm pulling up the rear 153 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: and getting all the attention. Now, little girl, lady, what's 154 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: wrong with you? What do you mean? She can't deal 155 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: with the fact that you're pulling up the rear and 156 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: getting all the attention now. Oh, because your mama's sold. 157 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: That's right, that's right you. Your mama's in in every 158 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: way all. So you every man's dream. Yeah you the 159 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: five sons, baby Daddy dream too. Yeah you they't dream 160 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: sept there a so so far right now you can't 161 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: get one of them stage. But you every man's dream. 162 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: You're pulling up the red nine. She can't stand I 163 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: didn't purposely did Here comes the next statement out of nowhere. 164 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: I didn't purposely take her man away from her. It 165 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: happened gradually. Girl. You're a mess. You're an absolute mess. 166 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: I don't know if you read this letter before you 167 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: sent it, but if you read it, you would see 168 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: this really ain't shining a favorable light on you at all. 169 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: I don't know what you thought by writing in Charley 170 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: and I were supposed to say to She asked me 171 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: to spend the night with her one night so I 172 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: could take her to an eye appointment earlier the next morning. Okay, 173 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: while she slept, her boyfriend chased me all over the house, 174 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:10,559 Speaker 1: trying to pull off my nightgown. Now, we all hadn't 175 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: been to big Mama house. We all hadn't been back 176 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: over to our mom and daddy house. Most our houses 177 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: bigger than the house we grew up in. So how 178 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: big was old Big Mama house? So all is chasing 179 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: you around? How far was it when y'all running from 180 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: the kitchen table to the stove warms you running from 181 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: the TV worms you running around the coffee table in 182 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: front of the count Big MoMA ain't got no big house. 183 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: This wasn't no long chase, y'all. This one the log 184 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: We was up down them steps, I headed, I was in, 185 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: I was down in the game room, and then I 186 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: went around through the family room. Then I ran up 187 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: back down by my golf simulator. Then I came back 188 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: up through where we got the bowl in that lad 189 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: he was just chasing me, really really, Later, lady ladies, 190 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: our father was he chasing, trying to take your night 191 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: down off here here got another crazy statement. When he 192 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: finally caught me, I played like I was resisting here, 193 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: but our chemistry was too strong to fighting. We snuck 194 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: around for two months before he finally told Big Mama 195 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: what was going on. Big Mama is your mother, So 196 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: he just went on the toe of hey, look, I'm 197 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: gonna just keep I'm with yourself, and your older children 198 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: have adjusted to him being with me and not Big 199 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: Mama anymore. My oldest son told me that he can't 200 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: imagine my boyfriend was ever with Big Mama, and I 201 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: can't either, because he is a superstar lover and I'm 202 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: surprised she could keep up with it. I'm tired of 203 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: fighting with Big Mama, So how do I get her 204 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: to stop playing games and give me my children back? 205 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: See what did happened here? You took her, man, She 206 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: took your kids because she told this letter out of order, y'all. 207 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: She told you that two kids went over that spend 208 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: the night, and she kept her saying, but then she 209 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: said the huge started three years ago. So after she 210 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: took her man. The two kids went over that one 211 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: night and she kept them. Ah, that's what happened. So 212 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: you took my man, I took your kids, and you 213 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 1: ain't fit to be a mother. And you don't want 214 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: me to tell everybody what you really did, and that's 215 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: why she can't get her kids back. Post your comments 216 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: on today's Strawberry Letter at Steve Harvey FM on Instagram 217 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: and Facebook, and check out the Strawberry Letter podcast on demand. 218 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: Coming up at forty six minutes after the hour, we'll 219 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: talk about Steve's new game changing daily Green Drink Elevate. 220 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: Right after this You're listening show